Job 22 10

Job 22:10 kjv

Therefore snares are round about thee, and sudden fear troubleth thee;

Job 22:10 nkjv

Therefore snares are all around you, And sudden fear troubles you,

Job 22:10 niv

That is why snares are all around you, why sudden peril terrifies you,

Job 22:10 esv

Therefore snares are all around you, and sudden terror overwhelms you,

Job 22:10 nlt

That is why you are surrounded by traps
and tremble from sudden fears.

Job 22 verses

Job 22 10 Meaning

Eliphaz, addressing Job, declares that because of Job's presumed iniquity (as described in the preceding verses), dangers likened to inescapable snares or traps encircle him, and an overwhelming, sudden terror grips him. This verse functions as Eliphaz's conclusion about the source and nature of Job's suffering: it is a direct and deserved consequence of hidden sins, manifested as pervasive external peril and debilitating internal fear.

Job 22 10 Context

Job 22:10 is part of Eliphaz the Temanite's third and final speech (Job 22:1-30) to Job. In this speech, Eliphaz moves from general principles about God's justice, as he often did, to making direct and baseless accusations against Job. He accuses Job of a litany of specific injustices against the poor and vulnerable (Job 22:6-9), despite having no evidence. This verse (22:10) presents Eliphaz's conclusion based on his preceding accusations: Job's current profound suffering is the direct, inevitable, and inescapable consequence of these alleged hidden sins. Eliphaz's theology strictly adheres to a simplistic, mechanistic retributive justice model, where suffering always equals sin. The historical context reflects a prevalent ancient Near Eastern worldview where prosperity was often seen as proof of divine favor and suffering as proof of divine wrath. The entire Book of Job, however, serves as a powerful theological counter-narrative, challenging this reductionist view and exploring the complexities of suffering, divine sovereignty, and human understanding.

Job 22 10 Word analysis

• "Therefore": In Hebrew, עַל־כֵּ֗ן (al-ken), meaning "therefore" or "on account of this." This word signifies a logical consequence drawn by Eliphaz. He presents this as the inevitable outcome stemming from the perceived wickedness of Job. It asserts a direct, cause-and-effect relationship based on Eliphaz's flawed theology.
• "snares": Hebrew פַּ֫חִים (pachim). This plural noun literally refers to bird traps, nets, or hunting snares. Metaphorically, it signifies dangers, hidden traps, calamities, or plots designed to entrap or destroy. It suggests a sense of entrapment and inescapable danger.
• "are all around you": Hebrew סָבִ֣יב לָ֑ךְ (saviv lach). saviv means "around" or "surrounding," and lach means "to you" or "for you." This phrase conveys a pervasive and inescapable encirclement. The dangers are not isolated incidents but completely envelop Job, allowing no escape.
• "and": Hebrew וּ (u-), a simple conjunction "and." It links the external dangers (snares) with the internal experience (dread), showing them as two facets of the same severe consequence.
• "sudden": Hebrew פִּתְאֹֽם (pit'om). An adverb meaning "suddenly," "unexpectedly," or "all at once." It emphasizes the unexpected, shocking, and overwhelming nature of the coming terror, contributing to its debilitating effect.
• "dread": Hebrew בֶּֽהָלָ֥ה (behalah). This noun means "terror," "dismay," "consternation," or "panic." It refers to a profound internal state of fear, agitation, and extreme disturbance, distinct from a mere physical danger.
• "overwhelms you": Hebrew תְּבַעֲתֶֽךָּ (teva'ateka). From the root בָעַת (ba'at), meaning "to terrify," "to dismay," "to throw into panic," or "to suddenly come upon with terror." It implies being violently struck or seized by dread, losing control, and being utterly helpless in its grip.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "Therefore snares are all around you": This phrase asserts the external, circumstantial reality of Job's suffering. Eliphaz attributes Job's manifold physical calamities—the loss of possessions, children, and health—to be traps set for him, enveloping him completely. It suggests Job is caught in the consequence net, implying his movements and attempts to escape are futile.
• "and sudden dread overwhelms you": This complements the first phrase by detailing the internal and psychological impact of his suffering. It's not just the circumstances but the terrifying, paralyzing fear that descends abruptly, leaving no mental escape or peace. This indicates a complete state of being—both outwardly besieged and inwardly tormented.

Job 22 10 Bonus section

• Eliphaz's words are spoken with an air of absolute certainty, typical of the friends, who believe they possess comprehensive understanding of divine justice. They refuse to consider any alternative explanation for Job's suffering.
• The use of "snares" and "dread" highlights Job's multifaceted suffering: not only physical loss and illness (the snares) but also the psychological anguish and terror that accompany such calamities.
• This verse exemplifies the polemic of the book of Job against a rigid, mechanistic view of divine justice that denies the possibility of righteous suffering, testing, or other purposes in God's sovereign plan.

Job 22 10 Commentary

Job 22:10 serves as the culmination of Eliphaz's diagnostic framework for Job's suffering. Driven by his unyielding conviction in retributive justice, Eliphaz directly correlates Job's unprecedented afflictions with specific, hidden wickedness. He claims that Job's current state of inescapable peril—his ruined estate, deceased children, and debilitating illness—are literal "snares" that have enveloped him due to his past sins. Adding to this external predicament, Eliphaz asserts that "sudden dread" has seized Job internally, implying a divinely sanctioned psychological torment for his unconfessed iniquities. This verse perfectly encapsulates Eliphaz’s severe, black-and-white theological lens: sufferance equals sin, therefore Job must be a grave sinner. Eliphaz's words highlight the human tendency to confidently deduce spiritual realities from visible outcomes, often misapplying general biblical principles. This ultimately reveals the limited scope of human wisdom compared to the mysterious depths of God's ways, a core theme of the Book of Job.